For millions of car enthusiasts, there’s nothing sweeter than a stylish set of wheels. Some auto fans have gone above and beyond and, over the years, cultivated truly impressive car collections that showcase both their fortunes and their tastes.
Ever wondered what some of those collections look like? Today, let's take a brief tour of the 11 best car collections around the world.
11 of the Best Car Collections Worldwide
Truth be told, many of the best car collections are found around the world, not just in the US. To really see the best arrangements of automobiles from top manufacturers, you have to hop across several oceans and take a peek into the garages of many famous individuals.
1. Jay Leno
Jay Leno’s car collection can be found at the aptly named Big Dog Garage near the Burbank Airport in California. It’s worth between $50 million and $100 million, but can vary because he rotates different cars out of the collection from time to time.
Some of the most popular models include the 1929 Bentley Speed 6, a 2017 Ford GT, and a 1963 Chrysler Turbine.
2. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's famous car collection numbers over 7000 distinct automobiles, including 209 BMWs and 452 Ferraris. He also has a few limited-edition concept cars made specifically for him at his Brunei palace, including the Ferrari Mythos, the Bentley Java, and a Porsche Carma.
3. Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren of the fashion line company began collecting cars in the 1970s. Now his US-based collection houses priceless pieces like a 1955 Jaguar XKD, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and a 1963 McLaren F1.
4. Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson’s well-known car collection is no surprise given his net worth of about $150 million. This British collection is mostly comprised of one-of-a-kind vehicles, including a 1977 McLaren F1, a 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato, and a 2014 Bentley Mulsanne Birkin Edition.
5. Dmitry Lomakov
Dmitry Lomakov’s Russian collection is located in a museum, so it certainly is one of the most unique places to check out priceless antique cars and motorcycles. The collection includes over 120 unique automobiles and motorcycles, like the antique 1914 Peugeot motorcycle and a 1977 Chayka GAZ-13.
Most recently, Lomakov purchased the Mercedes-Benz of Adolf Hitler from a private auction. It's the same car the dictator used during World War II.
6. Manny Khoshbin
Manny Khoshbin, a highly successful businessman and gearhead in equal measure, showcases his passion for automobiles in his California car collection. It features a lot of quality pieces, like an Expose Carbon McLaren P1 and Hermes Speedtail. Also included are several Bugattis of varying years and specifications.
7. Ion Tiriac
Ion Tiriac, the world’s richest retirement athlete and billionaire, has a car collection in his home country of Romania. There are over 250 pieces contained in this collection, like Harley-Davidson and Indian scout motorcycles, a Rolls-Royce, a Cadillac, several Ferraris, and much more.
Notably, it features all of the Rolls-Royce Phantom models made before 1972.
8. Jay Kay
Jay Kay or Jason Luiz Cheetham has a popular collection of almost 50 cars kept in the UK, his home country. The highlights of the collection include a 2002 BMW Baur Cabriolet, an Abarth Fiat 1000, and an Aston Martin DB6 Mark 1 Volante.
9. Khalid Abdul Rahim
Khalid Abdul Rahim’s truly breathtaking car collection is one-of-a-kind, partially because Abdul Rahim himself owns the company that made the racing circuit in Abu Dhabi (where the collection is based). It includes notable and iconic vehicles like a for Ari 288 GTO, a Ferrari F40, a Lamborghini Veneno Henesseyc, a Jaguar E-Type, and a McLaren P1.
10. Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani
Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is the richest man in India, so it’s no surprise that he has a 168-car collection, mostly made up of European cars. His top pieces include a Bentley, a Mercedes-Benz, a Rolls-Royce, and even a few Porsches.
11. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Ranier III, the current Prince of Monaco, hosted his private car collection in an automobile Museum in his country. Though he died in 2005, his collection remains, and it includes notable vehicles like the Bugatti Type 35 and the Citroen DS3 WRC, driven by Sebastien Loeb in the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally.
Tips for Starting a Car Collection
The above car collections are undoubtedly pretty nifty. But if you’re like most car fans, you probably feel a little sting of jealousy, too!
Good news — you don’t necessarily have to be unimaginably rich to start a car collection of your very own. In fact, you can get started collecting cars with a few basic steps.
While you do have to have some money, planning ahead could keep you from breaking the bank as you start cultivating a collection.
Find Your Niche
For starters, it’s a good idea to find a dedicated niche for your upcoming car collection. You can’t collect every car or automobile type in the world, so it’s better to specialize. For example, if you like European sports cars, you can start collecting those vehicles exclusively.
Alternatively, you can collect old American-made vehicles from the 1930s through the 50s. The sky’s the limit, so choose a niche that appeals to you and your stylistic sensibilities. Just remember that some niches could be a little more expensive than others, especially when you factor in the costs of shipping and maintenance.
Generally, cars that are rarer or made by luxury brands will be tougher to collect and maintain over time.
Set Aside Money for Maintenance
Speaking of maintenance costs, be sure to start saving and setting aside money for maintenance. Your car collection will only be valuable — and attractive to other automobile fans — if you keep it and its contents in good condition.
With that in mind, each of the cars you add to your collection must be well-maintained over time, both on the inside and the outside. Every year, expect to spend several thousand dollars at minimum repairing and maintaining your vehicles so they run well and look fantastic when on display.
Maintenance needs are even more important if you ever plan to showcase your cars at a local auto show.
Research Before You Buy
More importantly than anything else, do plenty of research into car collecting and available vehicles before buying. When you’re on the hunt for a rare vehicle, especially an old one that requires a lot of work, you must make sure that you purchase a vehicle from a legitimate seller.
Don’t be duped by someone, for example, trying to confuse a beaten-up car of a similar make and model to the one you are trying to find with the real deal. The more research you do, the more you can safely purchase vehicles as you add them to your collection without having to worry about being scammed.
This is doubly important if you ever decide to buy a car online using an auction site like eBay or Craigslist.
How Can You Transport Classic and Collector Cars?
Purchasing a new vehicle for your high-value car collection is just the beginning. You'll also need to transport that car to its final spot in your garage or other holding facility. On top of that, you’ll need to know how to transport classic and collector cars from place to place, particularly if you want to show them off later on.
Fortunately, you can rely on dedicated car transportation specialists like Carvaygo. With vehicles as important and valuable as collectors' cars, it's a good idea to rely on enclosed car hauling whenever possible.
Enclosed car hauling provides your vehicles with extra protection on their journeys, providing you with peace of mind and total protection against inclement weather and debris from the road.
More importantly, when you contract Carvaygo for enclosed car hauling, you'll benefit from our licensed and insured car hauling specialists, who use enclosed rigs and who will meet all of your delivery requirements.
Bottom Line
As you can see, not only are there plenty of classic car collections cultivated by dedicated fans just like you, but it’s also possible for you to build up your own collection given enough time, money, and commitment.
With Carvaygo, you can ensure that any car you order is delivered safe and sound to your collection site, whether that’s a special garage or somewhere else.
Contact us today to learn more or ask further questions about transporting priceless vehicles that need to get from place to place without a scratch.
Sources:
How Much Does It Cost To Maintain a Luxury Car | Yahoo
What Is a Luxury Car? | Kelley Blue Book
Finding a Classic Car’s History by VIN Number | Progressive
Do I Really Need an Enclosed Car Carrier? | Move.org
